Couple evacuated after danger chimney alert (From Bury Times)

Couple evacuated after danger chimney alert

3:28pm Thursday 13th March 2008

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AN ELDERLY couple were evacuated from their home when the chimney of a neighbouring house started to move.

Builders were carrying out work on a vacant property in Bridgefield Street, Radcliffe, to remove two chimney breasts. But as they did the work on Wednesday last week, the chimney stack on the roof started to move. A concerned resident living nearby contacted Bury Council, who sent a building control officer to the scene.

They decided to close the road and evacuated an elderly couple and their dog living in the adjoining terraced house. The couple stayed in a bed-and-breakfast hotel overnight.

The builders were ordered to erect scaffolding and make the chimney safe. However, the local authority say the original work to remove the chimney breasts was being carried out without building regulations.

Now, the council is considering taking enforcement action.

Bridgefield Street was re-opened on Thursday afternoon after an inspection by council officers.

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